COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Challenging slate awaits SIUE

SIUE softball coach Sandy Montgomery (right) celebrates a home run during a game last season at Cougar Field in Edwardsville.

SIUE Athletics

EDWARDSVILLE — Defending Ohio Valley Conference regular season softball champions SIU Edwardsville opens the 2016 season with three tournaments and a challenging schedule.

“Every year is a new year, and you have to take your strengths and weaknesses into consideration,” SIUE coach Sandy Montgomery said. “Our goal is always to win the conference championship, and that won’t change this year.”

The Cougars start the 2016 season Feb. 12-14 at the Florida Atlantic “Kick-Off” Classic with two of their first three games against Penn State of the Big Ten Conference. SIUE also faces Florida Atlantic, Hofstra and Wright State.

SIUE has two other tournaments on the schedule with four games at the South Alabama Tournament (Feb. 19-21) against Samford, South Alabama, Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi. At the Spartan Invitational in Spartanburg, South Carolina, SIUE meets Valparaiso, USC Upstate, Elon and Presbyterian during the weekend of March 4-6.

Montgomery also has scheduled a single road game against South Carolina (March 8) and a doubleheader at Western Carolina (March 10).

Montgomery said it is important to play teams in the NCAA Mideast Region, including teams in the Southeastern Conference and Conference USA, to compliment the OVC schedule.

“I think it’s important because of the RPI,” Montgomery said. “We try to schedule smart from an RPI standpoint while also playing teams within our region.”

The home opener is set for March 16 at Cougar Field as SIUE welcomes Drake for a 3 p.m. game.

The OVC opener is set for March 19-20 with a three-game home series against Austin Peay. The Cougars also have home contests scheduled against UIC (March 22), SIU Carbondale (March 30), Southeast Missouri (April 2-3), Morehead State (April 9), Eastern Kentucky (April 10), Western Illinois (April 12), Saint Louis (April 20) and Eastern Illinois (April 30-May 1).

“Any time you are playing on the road, it’s always a challenge against good competition,” added Montgomery. “Our job is to be ready.”

Information from SIUE Athletics

Staff Report

SIUE softball coach Sandy Montgomery (right) celebrates a home run during a game last season at Cougar Field in Edwardsville.

http://www.thetelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_0507siue2.jpgSIUE softball coach Sandy Montgomery (right) celebrates a home run during a game last season at Cougar Field in Edwardsville. SIUE Athletics